Precious Kashmir

Businessman ‘shoots’ self to death in Kathua

Front

29/11/2021

Jammu: A businessman allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his 12 bore licensed rifle in Basholi area of Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir, police here said on Sunday.

Police said that the victim a chemist shop owner identified as Anil Kumar of Mahanpur on Saturday evening allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with 12 bore rifle.

“He shot himself in a field, few metres away from his house,” police said.

They said that a case has been registered and investigation is in progress. (UNI)

4 held for illegal mining in Budgam: Police

Front

Precious Kashmir

29/11/2021

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police on Sunday claimed to have arrested four persons and their vehicles, who were illegally extracting and transporting minerals in central Kashmir district of Budgam.

A police spokesman said, “Police in Budgam have arrested four persons and seized four vehicles involved in illegal extraction and transportation of minerals in the district”.

He said, the four persons identified as Mohammad Issaq Bhat of Kuzwera, Mohammad Shafi Rather of Doonewari, Mehraj Din Dar and Ishfaaq Ahmad Gourah both residents of Maloura Khawaja Bazar Srinagar, were found involved in illegal extraction and transportation of clay from government land at Kuzwera Gowherpora Budgam were arrested and shifted to the police station where they remain in custody.

Accordingly, a case under relevant sections of law stands registered at Police Station Chadoora and further investigation has been initiated.

Police have warned any person found indulging in illegal mining activities shall be dealt with strictly as per law.

Driver killed as tipper plunges into gorge in Gbl

Front

United News Of India

29/11/2021

Srinagar: A 38-year-old driver was killed on Sunday after a vehicle he was driving skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge at Sumbal in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal, traffic official said.

The official said that a tipper driver identified as Javid Ahmad Baba died on the spot when his vehicle skidded off the road after he lost control over it at Sumbal Bala Gund in Kangan area of Ganderbal and rolled down into a deep gorge.

The body of the deceased has been retrieved and police have registered a case in this regard. (UNI)

Science blended with creative innovation brings ‘ease of living’: Jitendra

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

29/11/2021

Science blended with creative innovation brings ‘ease of living’: Jitendra

New Delhi: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said here Sunday that science blended with creative innovation brings “ease of living” for common man.

Dr Jitendra Singh said in Narendra Modi’s India, science is not only a subject of research, but has assumed the dimensions of festivity and there is a need for celebrating Science Festival in every city and village of India to inspire the youth in critical thinking. He was speaking at the Curtain Raiser event here for the seventh edition of India International Science festival (IISF- 2021) to be held at Panaji, Goa from December 10 to 13, 2021.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, the theme of IISF 2021 is ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ – Celebrating Creativity, Science, Technology and Innovation for a prosperous India. He said, this year twelve programs will be conducted in this mega event based on this theme. He said, India is celebrating the 75th year of its independence and it is time to lay down the road map for the next 25 years before independent India turns 100. The Minister said, it is a proud privilege and opportunity for the youth of India today to be able to contribute to the making of India when it turns 100 in 2047 and stands as a frontline nation in the world community.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that the series of India International Science Festival (IISF) is an integral part of India’s long-term vision in developing and widening the spectrum of scientific temper for sustainable development and new technological innovations in India. He said, it also aims to build a strategy for rural India through the advancement of Science and Technology.

The Minister informed that IISF will provide a platform to young students, scientists and technocrats from across India for exchange of knowledge and ideas and also supporting flagship programmes like ‘Swach Bharat Abhiyan’, Swasth Bharat Abhiyan ‘Make in India’, ‘Digital India’, ‘Smart Villages’, ‘Smart Cities’ ‘ Namami Gange’, ‘Unnath Bharat Abhiyan’ initiated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last seven years. He said, the main aim of the Science Festival is to bring into use the innovations by the people and develop technology that is affordable to the masses.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that this year India is celebrating 75th year of Independence as AazadiKaAmritMahotsav and the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given the ideas of five pillars to celebrate it, which will be reflected through various programs in IISF 2021.

India International Science festival (IISF) is a joint program of Ministry of Science & Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences and Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA) a swadeshi movement of Bharat. The first program of IISF was held in 2015 and the sixth edition of this annual event was organised in 2020. The main purpose of IISF is to celebrate science along with people in India and across the globe.

Chief Minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant, Secretary Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr M. Ravichandran, Secretary,\ DAE, K.N.Vyas, DG, CSIR, Shekhar Mande, President VijnanaBharati, Dr Vijay Bhatkar and senior scientists and officials joined today’s programme.

20k pilgrims so far take holy dip during “Pushkar festival” in Kashmir

City

United News Of India

29/11/2021

20k pilgrims so far take holy dip during “Pushkar festival” in Kashmir

Srinagar: In spite of freezing temperature and thick fog around, pilgrims with devotion woke up early in the morning to take a holy dip at Shadipora river in Ganderbal district of Kashmir to pay homage to their dead kin during Pushkar festival being celebrated in the valley.

Official sources said, about 20,000 pilgrims including women from Andhra Pradesh and Hyderabad have so far participated in the festival and took the holy dip in the waters at Shadipora amid freezing temperature and cold wave conditions prevailing in Kashmir valley.

The 12-day Pushkar festival was held in Kashmir valley after a gap of 12 years and will conclude on December 2.

Appropriate measures are in place near the Shadipora which is being considered the holy place by the pilgrims as it is located at the confluence of the Jhelum River and Sindh stream.

Police have also kept raft boats for rescue operations and authorities have also put available medical facilities for the pilgrims in view of any emergency. A free “Langer” established by the Shri Mata Kheer bhawani for the devotees is also in service.

Local people are providing hot water to the devotees against the fixed price after the pilgrims take the holy dip into the waters amid freezing temperature and cold wave conditions prevailing there.

The pilgrims mostly from the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and Hyderabad have converged at Shadipora to celebrate the Pushkar festival that is being held after a gap of 12 years in Kashmir.

Devotees usually pray for the dead at Shadipora and also immerse the ashes of the deceased at the joining point of Jhelum and Sindh.

Besides praying for the dead, devotees believe that taking a dip at the junction of the Jhelum River and Sindh stream has got several health benefits. The pilgrims are allowed to take a dip in the river till 1500 hours only.

“Pushkar” is celebrated every year at different places like Haridwar and other parts of the country wherever there is a “Sangam” or confluence of rivers. In Kashmir, it was last celebrated in 2009 when around 35,000 devotees thronged the place to attend the festival. Later, it will be held after 12 years in Shadipora which is around 18 kms away from the capital city Srinagar in Kashmir. (UNI)

New Education Zone: DDC Chairperson Pandithpuri gets Tarathpora enlisted

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

29/11/2021

Srinagar: In a bid to enlist Tarathpora for the creation of a new education zone, DDC Chairperson Irfan Pandithpuri along with DDC Ramhall visited the office of CEO Kupwara and took up the issue with the Chief Education officer Kupwara A H Fani.

Both DDC Chairperson and DDC Ramhall strongly advocated for the creation of a new Education zone at Tehsil Headquarters Tarathpora.

Pertinently, the office of CEO Kupwara had recently issued a notification, seeking feasibility for the proposed zones and Tarathpora was not enlisted in the proposed list, which had created a sense of disbelief and disappointment among the people especially the teaching community.

Taking strong note of the development, both DDC Chairperson and DDC Ramhall along with Hilal Ahmad Khan president JKTF Villgam visited the office of CEO Kupwara and got the matter resolved.

The people of Tehsil Ramhall Tarathpora especially the teaching community has expressed satisfaction for the active role played by the worthy DDC Chairperson and DDC Ramhall.

Dr Andrabi calls on LG Sinha

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

29/11/2021

Jammu: Chairperson, Waqf Development Committee of Union Ministry of Minority Affairs and BJP National Executive Member, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi Sunday met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan.

Dr Andrabi discussed various issues of public importance pertaining to employment generation opportunities for the youth, law and order situation, and other development issues.

She expressed gratitude to the Lt Governor-led administration for reaching out to the tribal population, and requested for taking up the issue of declaring Pahari Community of J&K as the Scheduled Tribe with the Central Government.

Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi also apprised the Lt Governor about the upcoming Sharda Tirtha Base Camp at Teetwal near LOC close to historic Sharda Peeth.

The Lt Governor assured Dr Andrabi that all her concerning issues and suggestions would be taken into consideration, and urged her to continue working for the welfare of the people.

Woman dies of suffocation in Kawadar blaze

City

United News Of India

29/11/2021

Srinagar: An elderly woman died on Sunday of suffocation after smoke filled up in her house following a fire incident at Kawdara area in down town Srinagar.

A fire office spokesman said, fire broke out in the house of one Fayaz Ahmad Najor at Kawdara which was brought under control before the fire tenders could reach on the spot.

However, an elderly woman identified as Raja Begum died of suffocation caused due the smoke inhalation.

The house was also damaged in the fire incident which was caused due to the short circuit, the fire office spokesman added. (UNI)

2 drug peddlers held in Anantnag

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

29/11/2021

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police on Sunday claimed to have arrested two drug peddlers in separate incidents and recovered a huge quantity of drugs from their possession in south Kashmir district of Anantnag.

Police said they received specific information that three persons are going to sell a consignment of drugs near Sangam in Bijbehara.

A police team was constituted who carried out the search at the suspected place and recovered 70 Kgs of poppy straw from one Bashir Ahmad Reshi, a resident of Batpora Naina. The accused was arrested, however, two of his accomplices identified as Sajad Ahmad Bhat a resident of Waghama and Abdul Hameed Mir of Natipora Sangam managed to escape.

A manhunt has been launched to nab the two drug peddlers, the police said.

Meanwhile, Anantnag Police established a naka at Mehandi Kadal and arrested one drug peddler identified as Naseer Ahmad Khan, a resident of Haapatnar along with 2.7 Kgs Charas.

Voluntary Information

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Oped

Precious Kashmir

29/11/2021

Without doubt, the Right to Information (RTI) Act is the legislation to provide access to services and rights, and bring in transparency. However the ambition and promise is far from fulfilled because authorities at different levels have more often than not provided information, more so suo- moto. There is no doubt about the Act’s role in fostering a more informed citizenry and an accountable government. However there have been persistent and growing worries and one such remains non adherence by many departments to Section 4 of Act which makes it binding for all the public authorities operating in the Jammu and Kashmir to make the suo-moto and pro-active disclosure of all the permissible information available with them within a period of 120 days from the date of commencement of the legislation.

The RTI Act of the erstwhile State was repealed by the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019 passed by the Parliament and Central Right to Information Act, 2005 became applicable from October 31, 2019.

The RTI Act has already come into force, meaning thereby that the public authorities in Jammu and Kashmir are legally bound to comply with the provision of law.

The erstwhile J&K State Information Commission had been persistently requesting for ensuring implementation of the provisions of the Right to Information Act.

Time and again, the GAD had issued circulars and asked such departments who have not so far created their own departmental websites to do so within a fortnight and host the requisite material on the websites under the provisions of the Right to Information Act on regular basis.

The former CIC had shared details with the GAD about the status of different departments regarding creation of websites, disclosure under Section 4 of the RTI Act, appointment of Public Information Officer and First Appellate Authority. Later part of 2005 Act was implemented.

Under Sec 4 of the RTI Act, the departments need to maintain all records in a manner which facilitates the right to information and can be computerised within a reasonable time; provide information suomotu at regular intervals through various means of communications, including internet; publish particulars of its organisation, functions and duties, the decision making process, a statement on its documents, consultation processes on its policies, details of on subsidy programmes, the budget allocated to each of its agency. 120 days time frame has been completed and it is time that all departments disclose the information voluntarily without fail. One also hopes that the disclosures are not made with outdated information.

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